NEW: Worker accused of molesting disabled woman at Gardens apartments

A maintenance worker at a Palm Beach Gardens apartment complex was arrested Saturday and is accused of sexually assaulting a 73-year-old resident, according to an arrest report.

The resident needs to wear an oxygen mask to breathe and can barely walk, a city police officer wrote in the report.

Manuel D. Cabrera, 59, is facing charges of lewd and lascivious molestation of an elderly disabled person and battery on a person 65 years or older. He was released from the Palm Beach County Jail on Saturday after posting a $30,000 bond.

Cabrera allegedly was intoxicated at about 9 p.m. Jan. 18 when he knocked on the woman’s door. The woman said Cabrera entered the residence without invitation and then sat closely to her on a couch.

The report states that Cabrera touched the victim inappropriately and made lewd comments to her.

After the alleged assault, Cabrera used the apartment bathroom, then left without further incident, the report said.

The attack was not reported to police until Jan. 25 when the woman told a person whose identity is blacked out in the report. She did not report it earlier due to fear of what Cabrera might do because he knows she lives alone, the report said.

During an interview with city police, Cabrera said he went to the victim’s home to fix a leak and “pat and rubbed” her on the back after noticing she was about to fall, the report said.